Rising star MiDi Kwakwa is a Ghanaian singer and songwriter with a captivating sound. Since her inaugural single release in 2020, she has been on a relentless journey to share her music and build a strong community. Her incredible talent is blending love and relationship themes with carefully crafted music that has captivated fans throughout the past year. This year, she has begun a new journey with IMSS Records with the release of a single titled “Desire” from her upcoming EP “Moonflower”.
iMullar catches up with the soulful artist to talk about her sound, new music and, of course, love and desire.
What drew you to making music?
My passion for music has always been there, but it was my high school teacher who sparked my interest in singing when I was just 12 years old. He introduced me to the soulful sounds of artists like Nina Simone, Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin and inspired my cousins and I, the only black girls in school in a small town in Germany, to pursue singing. Under his mentorship, we recorded our first CD in the school music room and performed for the first time, and kept on performing until we graduated.
As I dived deeper into the world of soul music, I stumbled across the amazing works of Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, India Arie and Efya. I was blown away, because it was soul but it sounded so new and fresh. This is how my love for Neo-Soul started. And then I stumbled across Efya’s song “Life,” particularly the live version at Jazzhole in Lagos, that made an indelible impression on me. It was a revelation to see a Ghanaian woman, who looks like me, express deep emotions through her music. Soul music embodies deep thoughts, pain, sadness, passion and hope. And this is what I am trying to convey in my songs and that became the driving force behind my evolving love for soul music and shaped my musical path.
How will you describe your sound?
I describe my sound as soulful music, a genre that speaks to the depths of the soul and creates a deep connection. It’s the kind of music that speaks to our innermost feelings, dealing with trials, tribulations, love stories and heartbreak. Rooted in vibrant melodies with soulful vocals, my music draws inspiration from the rich tradition of soul.
Throughout my musical development, I have incorporated more modern elements, blending soul with contemporary sounds. The result of this fusion is a unique expression that can be described as neo-soul or alternative R&B.
Which artists will you say you are inspired by?
These days I am really inspired by Victoria Monet, Willow and Cleo Sol.
What is the story behind your single “Desire”?
I am a very emotional woman. I am very much in my femininity which I love, but that makes it hard for me especially in a world where so many fear love, companionship and commitment. So, most of the relationships I found myself in were driven by my longing for a loving companionship, as I yearned for something I had never witnessed at home or in my environment: a deep, unconditional love between two people. My intense thirst for love became so overwhelming that it led me into a state of depression. This longing for love compelled me to seek affection from men who were unable to provide me with the emotional connection I craved. So I wrote this song as closure from a situationship with a guy who I have known for a long long time. This song was a form of therapy because I was able to understand the situations I found myself in and also the many previous situations where I was too young, too naive and to blind to see what was actually going on.
What are your plans for the future?
MUSIC. I want to do more and more. I can not wait to go on tour, open up for beautiful artists and then have my own solo tour. I think this is what I am mostly excited about.
Stream MiDi Kwakwa’s New Single, “Desire” HERE.
